"Martin, George R.R. - Song Of Ice and Fire 03 - A Storm Of Swords" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

Tyrion shrugged. УMaester Frenken is not so determined to keep me insensate.Ф
УBallabar came to the city in Lord RedwyneТs retinue. A gifted healer, itТs said. It was kind of Cersei to ask him to look after you. She feared for your life.Ф
Feared that I might keep it, you mean. УDoubtless thatТs why sheТs never once left my bedside.Ф
УDonТt be impertinent. Cersei has a royal wedding to plan, I am waging a war, and you have been out of danger for at least a fortnight.Ф Lord Tywin studied his sonТs disfigured face, his pale green eyes unflinching. УThough the wound is ghastly enough, IТll grant you. What madness possessed you?Ф
УThe foe was at the gates with a battering ram. If Jaime had led the sortie, youТd call it valor.Ф
УJaime would never be so foolish as to remove his helm in battle. I trust you killed the man who cut you?Ф
УOh, the wretch is dead enough.Ф Though it had been Podrick Payne whoТd killed Ser Mandon, shoving him into the river to drown beneath the weight of his armor. УA dead enemy is a joy forever,Ф Tyrion said blithely, though Ser Mandon was not his true enemy. The man had no reason to want him dead. He was only a catspaw, and I believe I know the cat. She told him to make certain I did not survive the battle. But without proof Lord Tywin would never listen to such a charge. УWhy are you here in the city, Father?Ф he asked. УShouldnТt you be off fighting Lord Stannis or Robb Stark or someone?Ф And the sooner the better.
УUntil Lord Redwyne brings his fleet up, we lack the ships to assail Dragonstone. It makes no matter. Stannis BaratheonТs sun set on the Blackwater. As for Stark, the boy is still in the west, but a large force of northmen under Helman Tallhart and Robett Glover are descending toward Duskendale. IТve sent Lord Tarly to meet them, while Ser Gregor drives up the kingsroad to cut off their retreat. Tallhart and Glover will be caught between them, with a third of StarkТs strength.Ф
УDuskendale?Ф There was nothing at Duskendale worth such a risk. Had the Young Wolf finally blundered?
УItТs nothing you need trouble yourself with. Your face is pale as death, and thereТs blood seeping through your dressings. Say what you want and take yourself back to bed.Ф
УWhat I want . . . У His throat felt raw and tight. What did he want? More than you can ever give me, Father. УPod tells me that LittlefingerТs been made Lord of Harrenhal.Ф
УAn empty title, so long as Roose Bolton holds the castle for Robb Stark, yet Lord Baelish was desirous of the honor. He did us good service in the matter of the Tyrell marriage. A Lannister pays his debts.Ф
The Tyrell marriage had been TyrionТs notion, in point of fact, but it would seem churlish to try to claim that now. УThat title may not be as empty as you think,Ф he warned. УLittlefinger does nothing without good reason. But be that as it may. You said something about paying debts, I believe?Ф
УAnd you want your own reward, is that it? Very well. What is it you would have of me? Lands, castle, some office?Ф
УA little bloody gratitude would make a nice start.Ф
Lord Tywin stared at him, unblinking. УMummers and monkeys require applause. So did Aerys, for that matter. You did as you were commanded, and I am sure it was to the best of your ability. No one denies the part you played.Ф
УThe part I played?Ф What nostrils Tyrion had left must surely have flared. УI saved your bloody city, it seems to me.Ф
УMost people seem to feel that it was my attack on Lord StannisТs flank that turned the tide of battle. Lords Tyrell, Rowan, Redwyne, and Tarly fought nobly as well, and IТm told it was your sister Cersei who set the pyromancers to making the wildfire that destroyed the Baratheon fleet.Ф
УWhile all I did was get my nosehairs trimmed, is that it?Ф Tyrion could not keep the bitterness out of his voice.
УYour chain was a clever stroke, and crucial to our victory. Is that what you wanted to hear? I am told we have you to thank for our Dornish alliance as well. You may be pleased to learn that Myrcella has arrived safely at Sunspear. Ser Arys Oakheart writes that she has taken a great liking to Princess Arianne, and that Prince Trystane is enchanted with her. I mislike giving House Martell a hostage, but I suppose that could not be helped.Ф
УWeТll have our own hostage,Ф Tyrion said. УA council seat was also part of the bargain. Unless Prince Doran brings an army when he comes to claim it, heТll be putting himself in our power.Ф
УWould that a council seat were all Martell came to claim,Ф Lord Tywin said. УYou promised him vengeance as well.Ф
УI promised him justice.Ф
УCall it what you will. It still comes down to blood.Ф
УNot an item in short supply, surely? I splashed through lakes of it during the battle.Ф Tyrion saw no reason not to cut to the heart of the matter. УOr have you grown so fond of Gregor Clegane that you cannot bear to part with him?Ф
УSer Gregor has his uses, as did his brother. Every lord has need of a beast from time to time . . . a lesson you seem to have learned, judging from Ser Bronn and those clansmen of yours.Ф
Tyrion thought of TimettТs burned eye, Shagga with his axe, Chella in her necklace of dried ears. And Bronn. Brorm most of all. УThe woods are full of beasts,Ф he reminded his father. УThe alleyways as well.Ф
УTrue. Perhaps other dogs would hunt as well. I shall think on it. If there is nothing else . . .Ф
УYou have important letters, yes.Ф Tyrion rose on unsteady legs, closed his eyes for an instant as a wave of dizziness washed over him, and took a shaky step toward the door. Later, he would reflect that he should have taken a second, and then a third. instead he turned. УWhat do I want, you ask? IТll tell you what I want. I want what is mine by rights. I want Casterly Rock.Ф
His fatherТs mouth grew hard. УYour brotherТs birthright?Ф
УThe knights of the Kingsguard are forbidden to marry, to father children, and to hold land, you know that as well as I. The day Jaime put on that white cloak, he gave up his claim to Casterly Rock, but never once have you acknowledged it. ItТs past time. I want you to stand up before the realm and proclaim that I am your son and your lawful heir.Ф
Lord TywinТs eyes were a pale green flecked with gold, as luminous as they were merciless. УCasterly Rock,Ф he declared in a flat cold dead tone. And then, УNever.Ф
The word hung between them, huge, sharp, poisoned.
I knew the answer before I asked, Tyrion said. Eighteen years since Jaime joined the Kingsguard, and I never once raised the issue. I must have known. I must always have known. УWhy?Ф he made himself ask, though he knew he would rue the question.
УYou ask that? You, who killed your mother to come into the world? You are an ill-made, devious, disobedient, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust, and low cunning. MenТs laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors, since I cannot prove that you are not mine. To teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my fatherТs sigil and his fatherТs before him. But neither gods nor men shall ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse.Ф
УMy whorehouse?Ф The dawn broke; Tyrion understood all at once where this bile had come from. He ground his teeth together and said, УCersei told you about Alayaya.Ф
УIs that her name? I confess, I cannot remember the names of all your whores. Who was the one you married as a boy?Ф
УTysha.Ф He spat out the answer, defiant.
УAnd that camp follower on the Green Fork?Ф
УWhy do you care?Ф he asked, unwilling even to speak ShaeТs name in his presence.
УI donТt. No more than I care if they live or die.Ф
УIt was you who had Yaya whipped.Ф It was not a question.
УYour sister told me of your threats against my grandsons.Ф Lord TywinТs voice was colder than ice. УDid she lie?Ф
Tyrion would not deny it. УI made threats, yes. To keep Alayaya safe. So the Kettleblacks would not misuse her.Ф
УTo save a whoreТs virtue, you threatened your own House, your own kin? Is that the way of it?Ф
УYou were the one who taught me that a good threat is often more telling than a blow. Not that Joffrey hasnТt tempted me sore a few hundred times. If youТre so anxious to whip people, start with him. But Tornmen . . . why would I harm Tommen? HeТs a good lad, and mine own blood.Ф
УAs was your mother.Ф Lord Tywin rose abruptly, to tower over his dwarf son. УGo back to your bed, Tyrion, and speak to me no more of your rights to Casterly Rock. You shall have your reward, but it shall be one I deem appropriate to your service and station. And make no mistakeЧthis was the last time I will suffer you to bring shame onto House Lannister. You are done with whores. The next one I find in your bed, IТll hang.Ф

CHAPTER 5
DAVOS